StatManDu

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: NO BILLY JOE 1994: The White Sox announced that outfielder Billy Joe Hobert would not be attending spring training as a non-roster invitee. The future NFL quarterback was the White Sox 16th round pick in the June 1993 draft out of the University of Washington despite never playing college baseball. Hobert, a left-handed hitter, batted .256 with four RBIs in 15 games at the Sox Rookie League affiliate at Sarasota in 1993. That, however, was the extent of his professional baseball career. Hobert went on to quarterback 29 games in the NFL for Oakland, Buffalo and New Orleans between 1995 and 1998. Hobert gained some “fame” for admitting he didn’t thoroughly prepare for a 1997 Bills’ game against New England in which two of his first three passes were intercepted. He was quickly cut.

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: FEB. 21 THE SOX AT NIGHT, SHINE BIG & BRIGHT, DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS 1931: The White Sox were part of history when they played the New York Giants in the first night game between two big league teams at Buffs Stadium in Houston, Texas. The teams combined to collected 23 hits in the 10-inning exhibition. Despite countless searches, I was unable to find the score of the game. The Sox wouldn’t play their first night game at Comiskey Park until Aug. 14, 1939. DENT: I WANT TO STAY WITH THE SOX 1977: Even with his future with the White Sox uncertain, shortstop Bucky Dent began working out at the team’s spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla., according to the Chicago Tribune. Dent, who had given the Sox three solid seasons, arrived in Florida more than a week before the rest of the Sox were required to be there. “I want to stay with the Sox,” Dent told the Tribune. Dent would last through spring training with the Sox but he was dealt to the Yankees for Oscar Gamble, LaMarr Hoyt, a minor leaguer and $200,000 on April 5, 1977 – two days before Opening Day. THE MAD HUNGARIAN ON DISPLAY 1983: Even with a stocked and talented pitching staff, White Sox manager Tony LaRussa decided to take a look at a familiar name during spring training in Sarasota, Fla. Al Hrabosky, the “Mad Hungarian” was given the chance to win a spot in the Sox bullpen, according to Chicago Tribune reports of the day. Hrabosky, a colorful lefty who led the N.L. with 22 saves for the 1975 Cardinals, was signed by the Sox on April 8, 1983 but he never played in a game for the Sox. MJ GOES DEEP … BUT NOT FOR 3 1994: Recently-signed White Sox minor leaguer Michael Jordan socked his first batting practice home run, according to Chicago Tribune reports of the day. Hitting with Frank Thomas, Jordan’s fly ball just cleared the billboards in left field at the Sox complex in Sarasota, Fla., according to the Tribune. Follow me on Twitter at @DaveMarran

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY, FEB. 20: BOOKISH BROSNAN BOOTED 1964: The White Sox requested waivers on pitcher Jim Brosnan for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release, according to a Chicago Tribune article of the day. Brosnan was the Jim Bouton of his era, having released “The Long Season,” a diary of his 1959 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960. The book gave the public rare insight into the life a big leaguer. Brosnan was acquired by the Sox from the Reds for Dom Zanni on May 5, 1963. The righty went 3-9 with 4 saves and a respectable 2.84 ERA for the 1963 Sox. After getting his walking papers from the Sox, the author-pitcher never played in the big leagues again. Just as an FYI, I did my senior paper for a class at New Trier comparing and contrasting life in the big leagues using The Long Season, Ball Four and The Bronx Zoo. Follow me on twitter at @davemarran for White Sox gems!

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY: FOX IN THE FOLD 1960: Nellie Fox agreed to his contract with the White Sox, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. Fox, the reigning American League MVP, was reported to have agreed to a salary close to $50,000 in a phone conversation with White Sox vice-president Hank Greenberg.

FOUR MORE YEARS? 2001: In the wake of the 2000 American League Central Division title, the White Sox signed manager Jerry Manuel to a contract extension through 2004 with an option for 2005. Manuel wouldn’t last the contract. He was let go after the 2003 campaign and succeeded by Ozzie Guillen. The record shows it wasn’t a bad run for Manuel. In addition to the division title, Manuel fashioned four second-place finishes and a third-place finish in his tenure with the Sox. He left Chicago with three winning seasons, one .500 season and 497 wins, which ranked fourth in club history. The downfall of the Manuel era was that he could never elevate the Sox to the next level -- something Guillen was able to do in his second year on the job.

BARNUM BILL BUYS HIS WAY IN 1959: Dorothy Rigney, the “Old Roman’s” granddaughter, sold her majority ownership in the White Sox to Bill Veeck. “Barnum Bill’s” first ownership would last until 1961 and produce the franchise’s first pennant in 40 years in 1959.

Happy 60th to Jerry Hairston, the greatest pinch-hitter in White Sox history.

FEB. 15: FRITZ, THAT'S IT! 1977: On this date in 1977, the White Sox signed free agent pitcher Fritz Peterson. A 20-game winner in 1970 for the Yankees, Peterson is best known for swapping families with Mike Kekich when the two were teammates with the Bronx Bombers. The left-hander, a graduate of Arlington Heights High School, never pitched for the White Sox. Follow me on twitter @DaveMarran

M.J. WORKS OUT IN PRIVATE 1994: White Sox minor leaguer Michael Jordan worked out in private at the team’s spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla. Jordan was in the seventh day of his baseball career, which began when he signed a contract with the Sox and received a non-roster invitation to spring training a week earlier. According to press reports of the day, 22 members of the media and six onlookers tried to take in the workout but were denied. Follow me on twitter @davemarran ... #chisoxalmanac ... no money to be made or products to push; just tweeting about facts, figures, notes, nuggets and oddities in Sox history

Further research shows the Smalley deal was on the 19th

HAPPY VALENTIN'S DAY. As White Sox fans, we celebrate Jose Valentin, the best power-hitting, iron-gloved switch-hitting shortstop in club annals

Was this performance Grammy worthy? On 6-19-77, White Sox first baseman Lamar Johnson sang the national anthem & hit 2 HRs in Sox 2-1 win vs A's at Comiskey Park

MMM BOP … HANSEN DEALT TO D.C. 1968: The White Sox said goodbye to the most prolific power-hitting shortstop in their history when the dealt Ron Hansen to the Washington Senators as part of a six-player swap. In addition to Hansen, the Sox sent pitchers Dennis Higgins and Steve Jones to the Senators for infielder Tim Cullen and pitchers Buster Narum and Bob Priddy. Hansen set a Sox record for shortstops with 20 homers in 1964. The record stood until 2000 when Jose Valentin hit 25 home runs. Valentin would break the record again and settle on 30 homers in 2004. This would not be the last the Sox would see of Hansen. The Sox re-acquired Hansen from Washington for Cullen on Aug. 2, 1968. I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities throughout the day at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it!

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY BONUS: I know I posted this the other day but maybe some didn't see it! FISK’S GREATEST HITS: April 10, 1981: In his White Sox debut and in the stadium he called home for the previous 10 seasons, Fisk launched a dramatic three-run homer in the eighth inning that gave his new Sox the lead for good in a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day at Fenway Park. April 14, 1981: In his White Sox home debut, Fisk thrilled an Opening Day crowd of 51,560 with a grand slam in a 9-3 triumph of the Milwaukee Brewers. June 15, 1983: A fifth-inning RBI triple fronted the Sox for good in a 5-2 win at Anaheim. The hit came with Fisk starting in the No. 2 spot and ignited a streak which would see him bat .329 the rest of way in leading the White Sox to the A.L. West title. May 16, 1984: First inning double, second inning single, fourth inning home run and a seventh inning triple made Fisk just the third White Sox player to hit for the cycle and the first to do it at Comiskey Park. Despite the history, the Sox lost to the Royals 7-6. Aug. 2, 1985: Fisk tagged out both Bobby Meacham and Dale Berra on the same play at the plate in the seventh inning of the White Sox 5-3 win at Yankee Stadium. Sept. 25, 1985: Fisk tied Dick Allen’s 1972 franchise record with his 37th home run of the season. The solo shot came off Ron Romanick in a 7-4 loss at California. The dinger was also Fisk’s 33rd while playing catcher, breaking Lance Parrish’s 1982 league record for roundtrippers at the position. Aug. 19, 1988: Fisk caught his 1,807th American League game, setting the record in that category. He celebrated the occasion with his first career five-hit game. June 21, 1989: Fisk cracked his 307th home run as a catcher, passing the Yankees’ Yogi Berra as the American League’s all-time leader in that department. Fisk accomplished the feat in a 7-3 win at Yankee Stadium. July 17, 1989: Fisk collected his 2,000th hit -– a 28 bouncer up the middle -– before an appreciative crowd at Comiskey Park. The milestone came off the Yankees’ Andy Hawkins, the same pitcher he victimized with his record homer about a month earlier in the Bronx. May 22, 1990: Fisk scolded and lectured the Yankees’ Deion Sanders on Yankee Pride at homeplate during the Sox 5-2 loss to New York. Fisk’s lecture was apparently over Sanders’ lack of hustle and his lackadaisical demeanor on baseball’s hallowed ground and prompted both benches to clear but no punches were thrown. Aug. 17, 1990: With one swing of the bat, Fisk became the most prolific home run-hitting catcher in big league history and the White Sox all-time home run leader. Fisk’s second-inning roundtripper off Charlie Hough in Texas gave him 328 as a catcher and 187 with the White Sox. He eclipsed Johnny Bench’s mark for catchers and Harold Baines’ White Sox record. The historic homer came in the White Sox 4-2 win. Sept. 3, 1990: Fisk hit the last of his 87 home runs at the original Comiskey Park in a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals before 25,236 on the Southside. Fisk finished tied for second all-time in Old Comiskey Park home runs with Harold Baines, one behind leader Bill Melton. Twenty-seven days later, Fisk would start the final game at the old park behind the plate and go 0-for-4. July 9, 1991: Fisk made his fourth and final All-Star team as a member of the White Sox and his 11th and last overall. … Joined Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench as the only catchers to play in at least 10 All-Star Games (Fisk did not play in the 1974 game because of an injury). … Replaced Sandy Alomar Jr. at catcher in the fifth inning to become the oldest White Sox player, the third-oldest player overall player and the oldest American League position player to play in an All-Star Game … Finished the game behind the plate. … Went 1-for-2. … Singled off Pete Harnisch to center with two out in the sixth to become the oldest player (43 years, seven months, 13 days) to hit safely in an All-Star Game. … Struck out by Mike Morgan in the eighth in what turned out to be his final All-Star at bat. … Handled five chances (all putouts) without an error. … Caught teammate Jack McDowell in the fifth and sixth inning to form the third All-White Sox battery in All-Star history and the first since Duane Josephson caught Tommy John in the 1968 game in Houston. … Tagged out a sliding Will Clark at home for the second out in a scoreless sixth. Aug. 6, 1991: Fisk hit his 200th home run in a White Sox uniform. The four-bagger came off the Yankees’ Wade Taylor in a 14-5 win at “new” Comiskey Park. April 7, 1993: On his first swing of the season, Fisk socked what turned out to be the final home run of his Hall of Fame career. The blast, the 376th of Fisk’s career, came off Jim Deshaies in the third inning of the Sox 6-1 loss at Minnesota. June 19, 1993: Fisk notched the 2,356th and last hit of his career – a fifth inning single off Mark Langston in a 5-4 loss at California. June 22, 1993: Fisk became the all-time leader by catching his 2,226th game in the Sox 3-2 win over Texas before 36,757 at Comiskey Park. Prior to the game, the White Sox presented Fisk with several gifts, including a special-edition Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a $25,000 donation to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Fisk helped give the Sox the lead with a sacrifice in the fifth that led to a run. After Texas tied the game in the sixth, Lance Johnson drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the ninth. Six days later, the Sox released Fisk.

FEB. 12, 1981: FISK IS FREE 1981: An arbitrator declared Carlton Fisk a free agent paving “Pudge’s” way to sign with the White Sox. Arbitrator Raymond Goetz upheld the Players’ Association’s claim that Fisk should be free based on the fact that the Red Sox mailed the All-Star catcher his contract two days after the Dec. 20 deadline. This set in motion the White Sox’s pursuit of Fisk, which would culminate with his signing March 10. I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities throughout the day at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it! ... I am currently giving a unique Sox-centric countdown to the start of spring training

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY: KARKO IN THE FOLD 1992: The White Sox signed catcher Ron Karkovice to a one-year contract. “Karko” was coming off a year in which he hit .246 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 75 games. 1992 proved to be an important one in Karkovice’s constantly-improving career. Injuries to Carlton Fisk – the man he had patiently been waiting on to move on – made him a regular for the first time in his seven-year career. He responded by hitting .237 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs in 123 games. This was a far cry from the .070 average he posted in his second year in the big leagues in 1987. Following the 1992 campaign, the Sox rewarded Karkovice with a multi-year contract and he would serve as the franchise’s regular backstop through the 1996 season. He went free agent after playing in 51 games for the 1997 White Sox but never played in the Majors again.

A ROLLS REUSS OF A MOVE 1988: The White Sox announced that they were inviting veteran left-handed pitcher Jerry Reuss to training camp as a non-roster player. Reuss, 39, was a steady performer throughout the 1970s and mid-1980s for the Cardinals, Astros, Pirates and Dodgers. His numbers suffered a severe decline following the 1985 season. After going 2-6 for the 1986 Dodgers, Reuss bounced between the Dodgers, Reds and Angels in 1987, posting a 4-10 record with a 5.97 ERA. Reuss rebounded with the White Sox in 1988. He started the season as the fifth starter and he made just three appearances in April before his season took off. Reuss led the White Sox with 13 wins while posting a 3.44 ERA, which was lowest among the team’s starting pitchers. The highlight of Reuss’ season came May 9 when he notched his 200th victory in the Sox triumph at Baltimore. Reuss was the White Sox Opening Day starter in 1989 and lasted until July 31 when he and his 8-5 record were traded to the contending Milwaukee Brewers for minor leaguer reliever Brian Drahman, who, incidentally, was the winning pitcher in the White Sox inaugural victory at New Comiskey Park.

MLB Network recently counted down the top 40 non-HallofFamers. Here are Sox on list: 1. Tim Raines 4. Minnie Minoso 9. Dick Allen 10. Jim Kaat 13. Ken Boyer 22. Tommy John 31. Albert Belle 37. Harold Baines

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY, FEB.9: “ONE DOG” ARRIVES 1988: The White Sox acquired promising outfielder Lance Johnson and pitcher Ricky Horton from the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Jose DeLeon. It took some time but this deal executed by general manager Larry Himes turned out to be a good one. After struggling in 1988 and not making the club in 1989, Johnson blossomed into a productive player. The Triton Junior College product hit .300 over his final 50 games in 1989 and was in the big leagues to stay. Johnson hit at least .274 in each year between 1990 and 1994. He led the A.L. in triples in each year between 1991 and 1994 while covering a lot of ground in center field. Johnson was an important part of the White Sox A.L. West Division championship season of 1993. In addition to hitting .311 with 14 triples, Johnson swiped 35 bases and went 4-for-9 with a homer and four RBIs in the Sox two victories in the A.L.C.S. DeLeon had some good years with the Cardinals but he was nowhere nearly as valuable to his team as Johnson was to the Sox. DeLeon made his way back to the Sox for the 1993, 1994 and 1995 seasons as an effective reliever. Horton appeared in 52 games for the 1988 Sox before being dealt to Los Angeles for Shawn Hillegas on Aug. 30, 1988. I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it! ... I am currently giving a unique Sox-centric countdown to the start of spring training

EL CABALLO IN THE STABLE 1994: The White Sox signed 17-year old Panamanian Carlos Lee as a free agent. White Sox Panamanian and Central American scout Miguel Ibarra recommended and signed Lee and it turned out to be a great move. While he struggled to find a position, Lee’s offensive numbers in the minors were so good that his defensive deficiencies were overlooked. Lee served notice from the beginning of his big league career that he would be an offensive force. On May 7, 1999, Lee became the first player in White Sox history to homer in his first big league at bat when he victimized Oakland’s Tom Candiotti at Comiskey Park. Lee was a staple in the Sox lineup through the 2004 season, hitting 152 home runs. That total ranked ninth in Sox annals when he was dealt to Milwaukee on Dec. 14, 2004 for outfielder Scott Podsednik and pitcher Luis Vizcaino. It was that trade that played a major role in the White Sox winning the 2005 World Series. I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it! ... I am currently giving a unique Sox-centric countdown to the start of spring training

THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY, FEBRUARY 7TH: JORDAN JOINS THE SOX 1994 Giving him the opportunity to live out a dream, the White Sox signed NBA legend Michael Jordan – who hadn’t played baseball since his senior year in high school -- as a free agent and gave him a non-roster invitation to spring training. After retiring from the NBA following three titles and three MVP Awards with the Bulls, Jordan began working out with White Sox trainer Herm Schneider at Comiskey Park in December. On the day he signed with the Sox, Jordan went through a baseball workout in front of the media at the Illinois Institute of Chicago in the shadows of Comiskey Park. Jordan was signed as an outfielder and was assigned No. 45. Jordan hit .150 in 13 Grapefruit League games before being assigned to the White Sox minor league camp on March 21st. Things didn’t get much easier with the minor leaguers as Jordan’s .154 average showed. The White Sox placed Jordan on Double-A Birmingham’s roster on March 31st. He got a taste of the big time when he started in right field for the Sox in an April 7th exhibition game against the Cubs before 37,825 at Wrigley Field. Jordan went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs as the Sox remained unbeaten against the Cubs since the resumption of the crosstown rivalry in 1984 with a 4-4 tie. Jordan touched relievers Dave Otto and Chuck Crim for hits but was also charged with an error in right field. With the Barons, Jordan hit .202 with three homers, 51 RBIs, 30 steals and a league-leading 11 errors in the outfield as Birmingham played to record crowds throughout the season. Jordan continued his dream after the season in the Arizona Fall League(before more record crowds) and instructional league. Jordan went to spring training in 1995 but he retired on March 10. Whether he didn’t want to get mixed up in the contentious labor situation going on at the time (he was listed in the Sox “replacement” players 1995 media guide) or he had grown tired of the criticism (Sports Illustrated put him on a cover flailing at a baseball and told him to “Bag It) or he just wanted to play basketball again, Jordan walked away from baseball quicker than he had picked it up. Eight days later, Jordan announced his return to the NBA with a press release that simply said: “I’m back.” I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it! ... I am currently giving a unique Sox-centric countdown to the start of spring training

THIS DATE IN WHITE SOX HISTORY, FEB. 6: MAGRANE SIGNED 1996: 15 years ago today, Joe Magrane signed with the White Sox. This week, he will be in Hollywood watching his daughter's attempt to become the next "American Idol." Seeking a fifth starter or left-handed help in the bullpen, the Sox signed Magrane and gave him a non-rostered invitation to spring training. Magrane, a lefty, made the Sox out of Sarasota but he could not recapture the form that saw him lead the National League with a 2.18 ERA for the 1988 Cardinals. Magrane went 1-5 with a 6.88 ERA in 19 games (eight starts) for the Sox before being designated for assignment on June 22nd. He accepted an assignment to Triple-A Nashville six days later but never pitched in the bigs again. Magrane's daughter, Shannon, auditioned for "American Idol" in Savannah, Ga., and was sent through to Hollywood on the program that aired last month. I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it! ... I am currently giving a unique Sox-centric countdown to the start of spring training

ONE DOG AND ONE LAST PACT FOR PUDGE 1993: The White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year contract with catcher Carlton Fisk and signed outfielder Lance Johnson to a three-year pact with two options. The contracts would turn out to be the last of Fisk’s decorated career and the last with the White Sox for Johnson. Fisk, at age 45, was on the brink of becoming the career leader in games caught. Shortly after eclipsing that record, Fisk was let go by the White Sox, effectively ending his career. Johnson, affectionately dubbed the “One Dog” by White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson, was coming off a season in which he hit .279 with 41 steals and a league-best 12 triples while covering a lot of ground in center field. Johnson was extremely productive in 1993, 1994 and 1995 both offensively and defensively but his options were not picked up after the 1995 season and he eventually signed with the Mets. I tweet about White Sox history, facts and oddities throughout the day at @DaveMarran ... no money to be made or products to push. I just enjoy it! ... I am currently giving a unique Sox-centric countdown to the start of spring training THIS DATE IN SOX HISTORY BONUS: FISK’S GREATEST HITS: April 10, 1981: In his White Sox debut and in the stadium he called home for the previous 10 seasons, Fisk launched a dramatic three-run homer in the eighth inning that gave his new Sox the lead for good in a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day at Fenway Park. April 14, 1981: In his White Sox home debut, Fisk thrilled an Opening Day crowd of 51,560 with a grand slam in a 9-3 triumph of the Milwaukee Brewers. June 15, 1983: A fifth-inning RBI triple fronted the Sox for good in a 5-2 win at Anaheim. The hit came with Fisk starting in the No. 2 spot and ignited a streak which would see him bat .329 the rest of way in leading the White Sox to the A.L. West title. May 16, 1984: First inning double, second inning single, fourth inning home run and a seventh inning triple made Fisk just the third White Sox player to hit for the cycle and the first to do it at Comiskey Park. Despite the history, the Sox lost to the Royals 7-6. Aug. 2, 1985: Fisk tagged out both Bobby Meacham and Dale Berra on the same play at the plate in the seventh inning of the White Sox 5-3 win at Yankee Stadium. Sept. 25, 1985: Fisk tied Dick Allen’s 1972 franchise record with his 37th home run of the season. The solo shot came off Ron Romanick in a 7-4 loss at California. The dinger was also Fisk’s 33rd while playing catcher, breaking Lance Parrish’s 1982 league record for roundtrippers at the position. Aug. 19, 1988: Fisk caught his 1,807th American League game, setting the record in that category. He celebrated the occasion with his first career five-hit game. June 21, 1989: Fisk cracked his 307th home run as a catcher, passing the Yankees’ Yogi Berra as the American League’s all-time leader in that department. Fisk accomplished the feat in a 7-3 win at Yankee Stadium. July 17, 1989: Fisk collected his 2,000th hit -– a 28 bouncer up the middle -– before an appreciative crowd at Comiskey Park. The milestone came off the Yankees’ Andy Hawkins, the same pitcher he victimized with his record homer about a month earlier in the Bronx. May 22, 1990: Fisk scolded and lectured the Yankees’ Deion Sanders on Yankee Pride at homeplate during the Sox 5-2 loss to New York. Fisk’s lecture was apparently over Sanders’ lack of hustle and his lackadaisical demeanor on baseball’s hallowed ground and prompted both benches to clear but no punches were thrown. Aug. 17, 1990: With one swing of the bat, Fisk became the most prolific home run-hitting catcher in big league history and the White Sox all-time home run leader. Fisk’s second-inning roundtripper off Charlie Hough in Texas gave him 328 as a catcher and 187 with the White Sox. He eclipsed Johnny Bench’s mark for catchers and Harold Baines’ White Sox record. The historic homer came in the White Sox 4-2 win. Sept. 3, 1990: Fisk hit the last of his 87 home runs at the original Comiskey Park in a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals before 25,236 on the Southside. Fisk finished tied for second all-time in Old Comiskey Park home runs with Harold Baines, one behind leader Bill Melton. Twenty-seven days later, Fisk would start the final game at the old park behind the plate and go 0-for-4. July 9, 1991: Fisk made his fourth and final All-Star team as a member of the White Sox and his 11th and last overall. … Joined Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench as the only catchers to play in at least 10 All-Star Games (Fisk did not play in the 1974 game because of an injury). … Replaced Sandy Alomar Jr. at catcher in the fifth inning to become the oldest White Sox player, the third-oldest player overall player and the oldest American League position player to play in an All-Star Game … Finished the game behind the plate. … Went 1-for-2. … Singled off Pete Harnisch to center with two out in the sixth to become the oldest player (43 years, seven months, 13 days) to hit safely in an All-Star Game. … Struck out by Mike Morgan in the eighth in what turned out to be his final All-Star at bat. … Handled five chances (all putouts) without an error. … Caught teammate Jack McDowell in the fifth and sixth inning to form the third All-White Sox battery in All-Star history and the first since Duane Josephson caught Tommy John in the 1968 game in Houston. … Tagged out a sliding Will Clark at home for the second out in a scoreless sixth. Aug. 6, 1991: Fisk hit his 200th home run in a White Sox uniform. The four-bagger came off the Yankees’ Wade Taylor in a 14-5 win at “new” Comiskey Park. April 7, 1993: On his first swing of the season, Fisk socked what turned out to be the final home run of his Hall of Fame career. The blast, the 376th of Fisk’s career, came off Jim Deshaies in the third inning of the Sox 6-1 loss at Minnesota. June 19, 1993: Fisk notched the 2,356th and last hit of his career – a fifth inning single off Mark Langston in a 5-4 loss at California. June 22, 1993: Fisk became the all-time leader by catching his 2,226th game in the Sox 3-2 win over Texas before 36,757 at Comiskey Park. Prior to the game, the White Sox presented Fisk with several gifts, including a special-edition Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a $25,000 donation to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Fisk helped give the Sox the lead with a sacrifice in the fifth that led to a run. After Texas tied the game in the sixth, Lance Johnson drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the ninth. Six days later, the Sox released Fisk.

I'm thinking the 195 was his "ideal" weight. The fact that Max ate his way off the Beaves roster thanks to his love for Polish sausage is probably a tipoff that he was a tub. I think Fridge's weight was listed at 320 for much of his career.

The White Sox signed switch-hitting catcher Hector Gimenez to a minor league contract recently. If he makes the team, he will join a small fraternity of switch-hitting backstops in Sox annals. The list: Raul Casanova, 2005 Ben Davis, 2004 Chad Kreuter, 1996-1998 Ed Fernandes, 1946 George Dickey, 1941-42, 1946-47 Ken Silvestri, 1939-1940 Joe Sugden, 1901